Dr. Bonnie HenryProvincial Health Officer

April 24, 20191

Stopping the Harm: Decriminalization of People Who

Use Drugs in BC

PHO Special Report

2

Overdose Deaths in BC

BC Coroners Service. (2019). Illicit Drug Overdose Deaths in BC: January 1, 1992 to January 31, 2019

Successes since April 2016

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10 Naloxone kits distributed

Naloxone distribution Combined with supervised

consumption services Overdose prevention services Opioid agonist treatment

1 death of a British Columbian averted

60% of all possible overdose deaths

averted

4,700 deaths prevented

The Crisis Continues

4

Despite these successful initiatives, the number of British Columbians dying from and vulnerable to overdose remains unacceptably high.

Average of 4 British Columbians dying each day.

Overdose deaths have become so pervasive that they are having a measured, negative impact on life expectancy at birth in BC–impacting everyone.

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Much More To Do

PHO Special Report Stopping the Harm: Decriminalization of People Who Use Drugs in BC

Brief overview of drugs laws and policies in BC and Canada.

Harms that criminalization has had in BC, Canada and beyond.

Role of criminalization in the current overdose crisis.

Options for decriminalization of people who use drugs in BC.

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History of Criminal Justice Approach to Drug Policy

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In Canada, there has been a long history of prohibition-based drug laws and drug policies.

Criminal penalties for drug-related offences remain disproportionate to penalties for other, more violent crimes.

If the intention of a prohibition-based system was to protect individuals from harms related to substance use, it has not succeeded.

There has been global recognition that not only has the “war on drugs” failed—it has actually done more harm than good.

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Harms Associated with a Prohibition and Criminal Justice Approach to Drug Policy Greater harms are experienced by women.

Impediment to public health harm-reduction initiatives.

Persistent personal, social and structural stigma.

Lucrative illegal drug market.

Increased incarceration of non-violent, low-level offenders.

Economic costs.

PHO Recommendation:

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Decriminalization of people who are in possession of controlled drugs for personal use.

Conclusion

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11

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Leslie McBain

Founder of Moms Stop the Harm

Questions?

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Visit the report online: www.health.gov.bc.ca/pho

Office of the Provincial Health Officer4th Floor, 1515 Blanshard St.

Victoria BC V8W 3C8Phone: 250-952-1330

http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/pho

Slide Number 1Overdose Deaths in BCSuccesses since April 2016The Crisis ContinuesMuch More To DoPHO Special Report Stopping the Harm: Decriminalization of People Who Use Drugs in BCHistory of Criminal Justice Approach to Drug PolicyHarms Associated with a Prohibition and Criminal Justice Approach to Drug PolicyPHO Recommendation:ConclusionSlide Number 11Slide Number 12Leslie McBain ��Founder of �Moms Stop the HarmSlide Number 14